Apparatus for shade marking



March 5, 1957 c. PEARCE 2,783,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 2 a a 21 Q lllllllllll 2 2 2. 2 5 83 f1 2 2 2 z 1 'T 2 z z 2 i 2 2 2 glNVE'NTOE. AfW/S PEA ECE ,4 TOIENEYS March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE2,733,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AA A FAQ E m R. C

H n H m H WM m o E m 1:: Li Z Illlllllll "III n n BY WW ATTORNEYS March5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJan. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. ZW/5 PEARCE 4 TTOENEYS March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCEAPPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING 5 Sheets-She et 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1951 2 5 m mw a a m. 2 2 Q\\x.\..,1. Z. 4 a m j jl . INVENTOR. ZEW/S March 5, 1957L. c. PEARCE 2,733,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nfmllm.

INVENTOR. LEW/S PEAIECE 'iv/z.

United States Patent 2,783,993 APPARATUS FGR SHADE MARKING Lewis C.Pearce, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Samuel Rosenthal, Cleveland, OhioApplication January 5, 1951, Serial No. 204,664 10 Claims. (Cl. 2763-1)This invention relates to more particularly to a novel for shademarking.

In the manufacture of wearing apparel, it is customary to form theblanks corresponding to the various portions of the garment by spreadinga bolt of cloth in successive layers upon a cutting table. The outlineof the various pieces which go to make up the garment are'then laid outon the top layer of cloth and the entire thickness of the several layersof cloth is cut by a power driven shear. Each cutting operation thusproduces a number of pieces of each blank depending upon the number oflayers of cloth which are spread- Since the shade of the cloth in anygiven bolt will vary perceptibly from one end of the bolt to the other,it is then necessary that each piece of every group of pieces bemanually ticketed to designate the layer of cloth from which the piecewas cut. The finished garment must be then formed of pieces from thesame layer of cloth in order that the shade of the cornpleted garment beuniform.

There is disclosed in application Serial No. 186,826, filed September26, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,756,992, a novel method and apparatuswhereby a cloth marking operation at the time of spreading issubstituted for the usual manual ticketing. The present disclosure isconcerned with various novel aspects of the apparatus described in theabove-referenced application, including particularly printing, inkingand drive apparatus therefor.

The objects and features of the invention will be understood from thefollowing detailed description and claims taken in connection with thefollowing drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus of the invention showing particularlyan end elevation view of the spreader and marking apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the spreader showing particularly thedrive apparatus and components of the inking apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an elevation view in section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2and showing particularly details of the printing and inking mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the reversing clutch takenalong the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the table illustrating the manner in which thecloth is marked;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive clutch mechanism;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views taken along the line -9 of Fig. 2 illustratingthe details and manner of operation of the register pawl actuatingmechanism;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the printing roll; and. V

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12 12 apparelmanufacture and method of and apparatus on the shaft 42 except asconstrained by 'with the driving member 49. The driven of Fig. 2illustrating particularly the drive gear for the various rolls.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention includesa table 10 upon which the cloth is spread in a pile 11 of superimposedlayers. The layers are normally of a length such that the componentportions of at least one garment may be laid out on the top layer forsubsequent cutting of the entire pile. A spreader 12 carries the clothin a pile 13 from which the cloth is drawn as the spreader traverses thelength of the table. The cloth is normally constrained at the ends ofthe pile 11 in order to assist in the withdrawal of the cloth from thespreader and the uniform deposition of the layers on the pile.

The spreader 12 comprises a frame 14 of suitable constnlction. A set ofwheels 15 at the front of the machine are grooved to engage a track 16mounted on the side of the table and serve as a guide. A second set ofwheels at the rear of the machine engage the surface of the table, adrive wheel 17 being equipped with a rubber tire to obtain the necessarytractive force for the operation of the mechanisms of the marker. Twoarms 13 and 1% extend upwardly from the frame 14 for the support of acarrier roll 20 and, conjointly with the uprights 21 and 22 supportfront and rear bearing plates 23 and 24. A series of strips 25 form abed for the cloth pile l3.

Cloth from the pile 13 is pulled over the carrier roll 20 and a suitablysurfaced platen roll 26 and through tensioning rolls 27 and 28. Thelower tensioning rolls 28 are supported from the frame 14 by linkages 2hand 30 and are controlled as to position by an adjustable tensioningdevice 31. The tensioning device includes a body 32 secured to the frame14, a spring biased slide 33, and a slide-adjusting nut 34. Theadjustment of the nut 34 determines the operative clearance between therolls 28 and the table 10 and the rolls are lifted clear of the pile 11by a block 35 which engages the lower end of the slide 32 as thespreader reaches the end of the table.

The marking apparatus of the invention functions as an integral part ofthe spreader and serves to print a matrix of layer-identifying symbolsupon the cloth as it leaves the spreader. As is shown in Fig. 7, thesymbols may be numerical and spaced at appropriate intervals across thewidth and along the length of the cloth, each layer of the cloth beingseparately numbered. The number printed is changed automatically foreach layer so that every layer is distinctly identified.

The marking apparatus includes the platen roll 26, a printing roll 36,inking apparatus, indicated generally at 37, for supplying marking inkto the characters of the printing roll, and drive apparatus 38 for theentire mechanism. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the driveapparatus 38 is actuated by the drive wheel 17 through a sprocket wheel23 attached thereto, a drive chain as, and a clutch sprocket 41. Theclutch sprocket 41 is secured to a clutch shaft 42 which is in turnappropriately supported for rotation in bearings mounted in bearingplates 43 and 44. The inner bearing plate 43 is mounted on the frame 14while the outer bearing plate 44 is rigidly secured to the inner plateby means including a spacer 45. The clutch shaft 42 supports a directdrive gear 46, a reverse drive gear 47, and a torsion responsivereversing clutch 48. As is shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the body49 of the clutch 43 comprises the driving member and is secured to theshaft 42 by means such as a key 50. The driven members 51 and 52 aresecured to the drive gears 46 and 47 respectively and rotate freelyengagement member 52 associated with the reverse drive gear 47 is shownin Fig. 6 and comprises a generally disc-shaped plate hav- Patented Mar.s, was

ing multiple spiral variations around the circumference thereof for thesupport and engagement of spring-actuated friction members 53. It willbe seen that the driven member 52 receives and transmits force from thedriving member 49 only for one direction of rotation of the latter. Thesecond .driverrmember 51 is similar to that just-described except thatthe sense is reversed and'one of the drive gears 46 and 47 is driven foreach direction of rotation of the drive wheel. The direct drive gear 46engages a corresponding gear 54 mounted upon the shaft 55 while thereverse drive gear 47 engages a reversing pinion 56, suitably mountedupon theouter bearing plate 44, the latter gear inturn engaging acorresponding gear 57. Thegears 54 and 57are secured to theshaft 55 andtransmit force through the associated sprocket 58, a drive chain-59, andto a-sprocket 60 mounted on the rear shaft 61 of the printing roll 36.It will thus beseen that the printing roll is always .drivento rotate inthe same direc tion regardless of the direction of translation of theapparatus along the table 10.

The particular apparatus herein described utilizes the printing roll 36also as a transmission means between the drive apparatus 38 and-theremainder of the mechanism and incorporates a clutch 62 for effectivelydisconnecting the printing roll from the drive apparatus. As shown moreclearly in Fig. 8, the drive sprocket 60 is mounted for free rotationupon the rear printing roll shaft 61 while a clutch wheel 62 is securedthereto by a nut 63. A series of holes 64 circumferentially spacedaround the clutch wheel 62 cooperate with a similar series of holes inthe drive sprocket 60 to accommodate a clutch pin 65. The clutch pin 65is mounted upon a generally annular plate 66 which rides in a groove ina collar 67 mounted for free rotationand limited translation along theshaft 61. An annular plate 68, which rides in a groove in the collar 67adjacent to that of the plate 66, is attached to a shaft 69, passesthrough the rear bearing plate 24, across the machine, and through thefront bearing plate 23. An eccentric pin 70 supported in a block 71attached to the front bearing plate 23 engages a block 72 mounted on theend of the rod 69. The rotation of a handle 73 thus serves to move thecollar 67 along the shaft 61 and cause the engagement or disengagementof the clutch pin 65 in the circumferential holes of the sprocket 60 and-the clutch wheel162.

As conveniently outlined in Fig. 3 and shown in detail in Fig. 12, agear 74 on the shaft .75 at the front end of the printing roll 36engages an identical gear 76 secured to the shaft of the platen roll 26so that the two rolls are driven at the same speed but in oppositedirection-s. The platen roll.% is mounted in sliding hearings to enablerelative movement between the two rolls during the printing operation,the platen roll being .urged toward the printing roll by springs in themounting. Details of the bearing mounting mountings are well known andthe details thereof are not germane to the present invention.

Referring now to 'Fms. 4 and 11, the printing roll 36 comprises acylindrical body 77 formed from steel or other suitable material andhaving the ends reduced to form the rearsshaft 61 :and the front shaft75. The central portion of the body 77 ismachined to form a'recess 78 ofgenerally rectangular crosssection along a major portion of the lengthof the body, the-resulting configuration being apparent from the crosssectional view of Fig. 4. A series of plates 79 are appropriatelymounted in the recess 78 and serve-as bearings for ashaft80 whichextends along the length of the recess and is journalled through anopening in the wall at the rear end of the body of the roll. The plates79 and the shaft .80 serve as supports for a series of printingregisters 81 which are thus mounted within the recess 78 so that theactive printing elements of theprcgisters extend somewhat beyond thesurface of the roll. The printing registers 81 are of a well known disctype bearing numerical charare not shown since such i acters and mayinclude any desired number of decadic discs. The characters active forprinting are cyclically controlled by pawls which are secured to theshaft 80.

The register pawls are actuated at the ends of the table 10 so that theregisters are advanced by one digit for each successive layer of cloth.To that end, there is included a register pawl actuation mechanism 82 asa component ofuthe marking apparatus, and an associated actuating meanscomprising a block 83 mounted upon the table 10. The pawl actuatingmechanism 82 is shown generally in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and the detailedconstruction andmanner of operation will be evident from Figs. 9 and 10.As shown, the mechanism comprises a parallel linkage including avertical member 84 supported by a lower horizontal member 85 pivoted ona spacer 86 (for the bearing plates 43 and 44) and an upper horizontalmember pivoted on a pin 87. The vertical member 84 comprises tworelatively movable parts, distended by a spring 88, a lower part 89supporting two roller terminated links 90 and 91. The links 90 and 91are constrained by strips 92 and 93 depending fromthe part 89 1 so thateach link is free to swingfreely in only one direction. The block 83 isformed with an inclined surface 94 and a horizontal surface 95 so that,as the spreader 12 reaches an end of the table 10, the forced engagementbetween the roller of one of the links 90 or 91 causes the elevation ofthe vertical-member 84.

The pawl actuating mechanism 82 includes a trigger 96 for the rotationaldisplacement of the register shaft 80 and a trigger actuator 97 forengaging the trigger 96 to accomplish that rotation. As shownparticularly in Figs. 9 and 10, the trigger actuator 97 comprises a flatplate 98 pivoted upon a pin 99 and connected to the upper horizontalmember 86 by a link 100. The upper portion of the plate 98 is formedinto an arcuate surface 101, skewed with respect to the center ofrotation of the printing roll shaft 61, for engagement by a roller 102mounted at the end of a trigger arm 103. The surface 101 is said to beskew and, particularly, converges toward the center of rotation of theprinting roll 36 in the direction of the roll in orderthat the triggerarm be increasingly displaced with increasing rotation after engagingthe actuator plate. The trigger arm 103 is mounted at the end of theshaft 80 and is of generally arcuate form around the shaft 61 to permita maximum travel while maintaining a minimum normal outer radius betweenthe outer surface and the center of the shaft 61. The trigger isnormally maintained in the extended position of Fig. 10 by a torsionspring 104 (Fig. 1.1) and rotates freely with the printing roll body 77.

The trigger actuator 97 has two positions, a normal inoperative positionas shown in Fig. 10 and an operative position, as shown in Fig. 9. Theactuator plate '98 is held in the operative position by a locking plate105 which is pivoted upon a pin 106. Release of the locking plate 105 iseffected by a slide 107 which engages a lip 108 on the outer surface ofthe plate and is actuated by a trip lever 109 pivoted with respect tothe plate 98 upon a pin 110. A spring (not shown) causes the retractionof the slide 107 afterthe tripping operation.

In the operation of the pawl actuating mechanism 82, the vertical member84 is urged upward by the block 83 as the spreader reaches the end ofthe table. The pawl actuator plate 98 is moved upward and locked intothe operative position by the locking plate 105. As the spreader isagain moved down the'table, the normalrotation of the printing roll 36by the drive apparatus 38 brings the roller 102 into engagement with thearcuate surface 101. Further rotation of the roll 36 causes anincreasing displacement of the trigger arm 103 and a rotationaldisplacement of the shaft 80 with respect to the body 77 of the vrolluntil the position of maximum displacement shown in Fig. 9 is reached.The-total displacement is such that the register pawls which areattached to the shaft 80 dvance a disc of each of the registers by onestep, thus changing the printing character by one digit. The furtherrotation of the roll 36 then actuates the trip lever 109 and slide 107to deflect the locking plate 105 and allow the actuator plate 98 to dropto the lower, inoperative position. Simultaneously, the trigger arm 103springs back to the extended position under the influence of the spring104. The printing operation then proceeds, the new number being printedupon the cloth until a new actuating cycle again advances the register.It is to be understood, of course,- that the pawls may be operative torotate the register discs either upon the initial displacement of theshaft 80 or upon the spring actuated return.

The printing registers 81 are supplied with ink by a series of inkingdevices 110, an inking device being associated with each register.Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, each of the inking devicescomprises a unitary mechanism pivotally supported upon a transverseshaft 111 and having a series of common drive shafts 112, 113, and 114.Each inking device includes an ink reservoir formed from a block 115 andside plates 116 and supported from the transverse shaft 111 by a supportmember 117. The forward ends of the plates 116 are attached toplate-like members 118, configured as shown in Fig. 4, by means such asa link 119. An ink feed roll 120 mounted upon a shaft 121 supported bythe side plates 116 cooperates with a leaf spring 122 mounted on theblock 115 to form a reservoir for the ink 123. The pressure of thespring 122 upon the surface ofthe roll 120 is made adjustable by athumbscrew 124.

The ink feed roll 120 and an ink transfer roll 125 are driven from theink feed drive shaft 112. The ink feed roll 120 i intermittently rotatedby a pawl 126 which actuates a ratchet wheel 127 secured to the feedroll shaft 121. A pawl lever arm 128, also mounted upon the feed rollshaft 121, is actuated by a cam 129 mounted upon the drive shaft 112.The ink transfer roll 125 is supported upon lever arms 130 mounted upona pivot 131 so that the transfer roll is forced into contact with thefeed roll 120 by a cam 132 mounted upon the shaft 112. During theinterval when the cam 132 is not incident upon the lever arm 130, thetransfer roll 125 is held in contact with, and is frictionally rotatedby, an ink transfer roll 133. The ink transfer roll 133 is in rollingengagement with an ink transfer roll 134, which latter roll is impingedby the characters of the registers 81 as the printing roll rotates, thustransferring the ink to the characters. The spacing between the transferroll 134 and the printing roll 36 is controlled by a rotationallyadjustable shaft 135 having a flattened side. The members are held infirm contact with the shaft 135 by a series of springs 136.

The various drive shafts for the inking devices are supported and drivenas shown in Fig. 12. The shafts 112, 113, and 114 are supported inbearings mounted in end plates pivoted upon the shaft 111, a front endplate 137 being shown. Two gears 138 and 139 of equal diameter aresecured to the transfer roll shafts 113 and 114 respectively and engagethe printing roll drive gear 74 so that the transfer rolls 133 and 134are driven at equal speeds but in opposite directions. A relativelylarger gear 140 is secured to the ink feed cam shaft 112 and drives theshaft. A hand drive comprising a wheel 141 attached to the printing rollshaft 75 at the front side of the front bearing plate 23 and a handle142 enables the adjustment of the printing and inking appaartus asdesired.

In the operation of the inking devices 110, the rotation of the printingroll 36 by the drive apparatus 38 causes the actuator of the ink feedcam shaft 112 by the gear train composed of gears74, 139, 138, and 140.The consequent rotation of the ink feed roll 120 by the action of theassociated cam and pawl carries a supply of ink to the transfer roll 125by the adhesion of a film of ink to the surface of the roll 120. Thetransfer roll 125 is rotated by frictional engagement with the drivenroll 133 and transfers the ink thereto. The ink is then transferred bysurface contact from the roll 133 to the roll 134 and thence to theprinting registers 81. When desired, the inking devices may be madeinoperative by a rotation of the shaft to disengage the gears andseparate the transfer roll 134 a sufiicient distance from the printingroll 36 to clear the registers.

The ink utilized in connection with the marking device may be of asuitable type removable from the cloth by washing. The ink maypreferably be a fluid of relatively high viscosity to insure an optimumtransfer from the reservoirs to the printing registers. It is to beunderstood that the term ink is here used in a generic sense and mayinclude solids as well as fluids.

In the operation of the apparatus, the cloth to be spread is laid out ina pile upon the strips 25. The web of the cloth is then led over thecarrier roll 20 between the printing roll 36 and the platen roll 26 andthrough the tensioning rolls 27 and 28. The end of the cloth is attachedto the table 10 by any suitable means. The spreader 12 is then movedalong the table, utilizing handles 143 for ordinary operation. Themovement of the spreader relative to the table drives the mechanism ofthe marker to print a matrix of numerals upon the cloth, as has beenexplained, and such operation continues while the spreader is in motion.At the ends of the table, the engagement of the block 83 with theactuating mechanism associated with the printing apparatus serves toadvance the number printed by one digit as the spreader is started inthe reverse direction. This operation continues until the cloth from thepile on the spreader is completely laid out. The printing mechanism maythen be reset so as to start a new series of identifying numerals or theseries in use may simply be continued. It is an important feature of theinvention that the utilization of a marking symbol printed upon thecloth leads to great simplification and general economy in theidentification and handling of garment components where the productionoperations are highly functionalized.

The cloth forms for the garment components are cut from the pile 11 bythe usual cutters. After the various sewing and other individual andassembly operations are performed, the numbers or other charactersprinted upon the cloth may be removed as by washing.

It is to be understood that while a hand driven apparatus is illustratedin the disclosure, any suitable form of mechanical or electrical drivemay be utilized in the practice of the invention. Further, it is to beunderstood that the marker changing apparatus may be mounted at only oneend of the table or may be only operable at predetermined intervals, nolimitation with respect thereto being intended.

The foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character inorder that the specific embodiment of the invention be completely setforth. It is to be understood that the specific terminology is notintended to berestrictive or confining and that various rearrangementsof parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identified layers, incombination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the framealong a table or the like, means for supporting a strip of sheetmaterial on the frame, a platen roll for carrying the sheet material, aprinting roll mounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperativetherewith, the printing roll carrying printing means for impressingsymbols upon the sheet material, and drive means for driving theprinting roll in one direction only regardless of the direction ofmovement ofsaid frame.

2. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identi fied layers, incombination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the framealong a table or the like,

means for supporting a strip of sheet material on the frame, 'aplatenroll for carrying the sheet material, a printing roll mounted adjacentt. e-platen roll, the printing1roll including printing ,means forimpressing identifying'indicia uponthe sheet material, inking meansincluding, a transfer roll mounted adjacent the printing roll, wherebythe-printing means may engage the transfer roll, and drive apparatus forthe roll and the inking means, whereby the printing roll rotates in thesame direction regardless of the direction of movement of said frame.

3. In apparatus for spreading sheetmatcrial in identified layers, incombination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the framealong a table or the like, means for supporting a "strip of sheetmaterial on the frame, a platen roll adapted to engage the sheetmaterial on one side thereof, a printing roll mounted adjacent theplaten roll-and cooperative therewith to impress identifying indiciauporrthe remaining side of the sheet material, the printing rollincluding a plurality of printing registers cyclically operable toshiftthe active characters of the register, inking-means'for theprintingregisters and drive'apparatus for the rolls and-inking means, wherebythe printing roll rotates inthe same direction regardless ofthedirection of translation of the frame.

4. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identitied layers, incombination a frame having side port-ions, wheels mounted on said framefor supporting the frame and permitting movement of the frame along atable, a platen-roll havinga shaft portion supported by said frame, aprint-ingroll mounted adjacent the platen roll, the printing roll havingshaft portions supported by the frame, a recess in the printing-rollalong the length thereof, printing registers mounted in the recess, aregister shaft disposed along the lengthof the recess for operating theregisters, means foroperatively actuating the shaft to shift theregisters, inking means for the printing registers including reservoirsand means for transferring ink from the reservoirsto the registers,andmeans for driving the printing roll, said platen roll, said inkingmeans and said transfer means concurrently with the movement of theframe along the table.

'5. -A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels on the underside of theframe for supporting the frame and permitting movementof the frame alonga table or the like, means for-supportinga strip of-cloth on the frameand means for continuouslytransferring the cloth on the support means tothe table as the apparatus is moved along the table, a platen rollmounted transversely of the frame for carrying the cloth as it passes-from the supporting means to the table, a printingroll mounted adjacentthe platen roll and cooperative therewith for impressing identifyingindicia upon the cloth, the printing roll having shafts at either endjournalled for rotation in'the said frame and including printingregisters cyclically operable to shiftthe printing characters, drivemeans for rotating the said printing roll, and means for shifting thesaid registers while the printing roll is in rotation, said lastnamed-means including defiectablelever means operatively connected tothe printing registers, an actuator platefor engaging the lever means,and means for controlling the position of said actuator. plate.

6. A cloth spreader comprising afrarne, wheels on the underside of theframe for supporting the frame and permitting movement of the framealong a table or the like, means for supporting'a strip of cloth on theframe and means for continuously transferring the cloth on the supportmeans to the table as the apparatus is moved along the table, a platenroll mounted transversely of the frame for carrying the cloth as itpasses from the supporting means to'the table, a printing roll mountedadjacent the platenroll and cooperative therewith for impressingidentifying indicia upon the cloth, the printing roll having shafts ateither end journalled for rotation in the said frame and includingprinting registers cyclically operable to shift the printing'characters,drive means for rotating the said printing roll, and means for shiftingthe said registers-while the printing roll 'is in rotation, said lastnamed means including a defiectable lever mounted on the printing roll,an'actuator platefor'said roller, means for engagingthe actuator plateto hold the actuator plate in a positionfor'engaging the lever, andmeans responsive to the action of the lever for disengaging said lastnamed means.

7. A cloth spreader comprising a frame having two spaced side portions,means positioned between the side portions for supporting a strip ofcloth, wheels on the underside of said frame for permittingreciprocation of the frame over a table or the liketo spread the clothin successive superimposed layers, a platen roll mounted transversely ofsaid frame and aligned with the cloth support means, a printing rollmounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperative therewith to impressidentifying indicia upon the clothas it passes to the table, the saidrolls having shaft portions journalled through the side portions of theframe,,inking apparatus for said printing roll including a plurality ofdrive shafts, interconnected drive gears on the said'inking apparatus,drive shafts and said roll shafts, and drive apparatus for said rollsand inking apparatus for actuating the rolls and inking apparatus as theframe is moved over the surface upon which the cloth is spread, saiddrive apparatus being connectedtto thewheels and including a reversingclutch, whereby "the printing roll is driven in a constant directionwhatever the direction of movement of the frame.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said driveapparatus'including a torsion controlled reversing clutch, whereby theprinting roll'is driven in a constant direction whatever 'the directionof movement of the frame.

9. A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels supporting said 'frame, aplaten roll mounted transversely of said frame for carrying the cloth tobe marked, a printing roll mounted 'adjacentthe platen roll andcooperative therewith, the printing roll including printing meansdisposed along the length of the printing roll and projecting from thesurface thereof, means for inking said printing means mounted adjacentthe printing roll, the inking means being 'rotatably driven, and driveapparatus connectedbetween said rolls, said inking means, and at leastone of said'wheels, said drive apparatus including a re versing clutch,whereby the printing roll is driven in a constant direction.

'10. A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels mounted onthe-underside of said frame and adapted to facilitate translation of theframe along a table, means for supporting a strip of cloth on the frame,means for transferring cloth fromthe supporting means to the surface ofthe table, a platen roll for engaging the cloth on one side of the stripas it passes from the supporting means to the table, and means mountedadjacent the platen roll and cooperating therewith to print identifyingindicia upon the cloth as it passes over the platen roll, said printing'means including a printing roll rotatably coupled to said-platen roll,and drive means for said printing roll and said platen roll operativelyconnected to one of said wheels and including clutch means for drivingthe printing roll and platen roll in a constant direction of rotationwhatever the direction of translation of the frame.

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